South America: To Drink

Drinks have come to define many regions in South America - from maté etiquette in the southern part of the continent to some of the world’s best coffee along the equator.

Must Try Drinks

Maté: If you’ve ever been through Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, or Uruguay - odds are you’ve seen maté. It is the de facto drink and cultural tenet of these countries. Maté, the drinking and making of, are so deeply intertwined into the culture that people have their own personal mug and spoon-straw. There are customs around the maté host - how much water is needed, myths (i.e. sadness to loved ones if you burn the leaves), rules how it is served, and of course - portable packs, straws, and mugs for everyone to drink on the go. The bitter-sweet, highly caffeinated drink keeps southern Sudamérica running.

Learn more: The Last Cowboys at the End of the World details maté lore and its obsession.

Coca Leaves: the warm, highly caffeinated drink of choice in the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes. Coca leaves are a close relative of, and the raw material for, cocaine. The leaves have a relatively small percentage of alkaloid content. The consequent tea is a stimulant still used in Quechua cultures, with additional folk knowledge that it helps people adjust to high altitudes faster.

Coffee: coffee is world renowned in the countries of Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela. Colombia produces full body, sweet caramel-like coffee from higher altitude slopes than Brazilian lowlands. These lowlands produce nutty, low in acidity, sweet or bittersweet coffee - depending on your preference!

Cacao & Chocolate: rich, dark chocolate, straight from its source. The coco bean is native to the Amazon basin, where people have cultivated it for more than 5,000 years. Fresh cacao nibs, chocolate bars, hot chocolate are wonderful treats from these tropical lowlands

Pisco Sour: the unofficial national drink of both Peru and Chile. Pisco Sour is a combination of pisco (fermented grape juice brandy), lime juice, egg white and Angostura bitters. It’s a Earthy, sweet and bitter. You’ll find it in almost every Chilean and Peruvian bar that serves cocktails.

Malbec: the famed Argentinian red wine never disappoints. From a purple grape, it is a dry full-bodied wine. It is grown in central Argentina, around Mendoza’s world class wineries. It is even more delicious when paired with a prime cut steak.

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